Rim for vehicle-wheels.



R. S, BRYANT. RIM FUR vEHlCLE WHEELS.

R. S. BRYANT.

HIM 0R VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPUCAUUN mi!) mmf-1.1911.

1 ,268,2 1 O. lzltcntud Jun Ll, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MJS 5 H. S. BRYANT.

mm FR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLIUAUON FILED MAY 4| |911.

f2-68, 2 l O lutunvd J une 4, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BIUHABD S. BRYANT, F AKRON.

OHIO, ASSIGNOB., BY MESN'E ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STANDARD BABTS COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BIM FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Application led Hay 4, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, RICHARD S. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron2 in the county of Summit and State of 0h10, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Rims for Vehicle- Wheels, ol which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rims for vehicle wheels of the type designed to secure a pneumatic or other resilient tire in place thereon Vso as to hold the same securely under all conditions of use and' yet be readily and easily removable from the Wheel for purposes of repair or replacement. These rims are usually' formed` Iwith an upstanding liange at each side to engage the sides of the tire, said flanges either being hooked inwardly so as to securely grasp the lips of a tire of the clencher type, or left with a straight side for the reception of a tire of the straight Wall or Dunlop type. Various ex edients have heretofore been employed or facilitating the removal of the tire from the Wheel, one of these expedents being the formation of the rim itself so as to be easilydetachable from the folly of the wheel, withA or without lirst removing the tire therefrom. With this construction it is pssible for an automobile to ,carry a reserve tire already 4equipped with a rim, soI

that in case one yofthe tlres in use'becomes disabled'it. can be readily removed, rim and all, and the reserve tire and rimsubstituted therefor. This construction permits 4delaying the removal of the tire from the rim until the garage is reached where the necessary tools can be obtained. Another expedient has been the formation of the rim, with one at least, of said side flanges ldetachahly secured thereto so as to be easily removed and permit the tire to be drawn therefrom without hindrance.

VThe object of this invention is the provision oa rim which can be readily and expeditiously removed from the wheel without the use of special tools and irrespective of whether the tire be, or be not, first removed, and which shall be securely held upon the rim under all conditions of use; the provision of a rim of this type which,

V`when secured in-place upon the wheel, shall serve to reinforce lthe wheel; the provision of a split rim havlng improved means for Speciflcation of Letters Fatent.

Patented J une 4, 1918. semi No. 625,079.

drawing together the abutting ends thereof and clamping the same securely about. the felly; and the provision of a split rim having means for drawing together the abutting ends thereof which shall take up the smallest possible. amount of space, and shall weaken the wheel felly to the least possible degree. Another object of this invention is the provision, in combination with a rim of this type, of a detachable side ange therefor, which can be easily and expeditiously removed therefrom when necessary, and which shall be held securely thereupon independently of Whether the ends of the rim be brought closely together or not the provision of a split rim of this character having a reversible tire engaging Harige at each side thereof, and means for retaining said flan es upon said rim which shall be equally eiiicient whether the rim be in expanded or contracted condition; while further objects and advantages will 'be made apparent in the course of the following description and claims.

Generally speaking, my invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied 1n the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings formin part hereof, wherein: Figure l is. the sigo elevation of a wheel provided with my improved rim a portion thereof being illustrated as broken away; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the rim and felly taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar cross sectional view taken on the line 3-,45 of'Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of thevfelly band; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the rim and felly taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an inside view of a portion of the felly band and rim, the felly being shown as partially broken away; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view felly illustrating my improved method of securing together the ends of the rim; Fig.-

8 is a plan View of the of a portion of the rim and 'stantially its entire n i a erably employed in retaining the flange rin place; Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the rivet preferably employed with said spring; Fig. 13 is a side view of a portion of a rim illustrating a modified expedient for engaging the telly band, the toggle joint being omitted; Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a rim made in accordance with my invention, illustrating the method of securing a. reversible flange at each side thereof; and Figs. 15 and 16 are cross sectional views of said modified forni of rim, showing said flanges iii reverse positions. l

Describing the parts by reference characters7 1 indicates the hub of a vehicle wheel, 2 the spokes, 3 the felly, 4: a at metallic band surrounding the felly and preferably shrunk thereon, and -5 a resilient tire which in the present instance is illustrated as a pneumatic tire, but which might obviously be of any other suitable type. Upon this felly-band I secure a riiii, which consists of a flat annular metallic band (i, cut transversely across at one point and provided with means for drawing together the free ends thereof so as to consti'ict it about the telly-band. The method of cutting this riin and constrirting it will now bev described.

The riiii is divided by cutting therein a pair of parallel off-set slits 7 and 8 extending from the sides thereof nearly to the middle, and then continuing the slits at right angles to their length as at 9 and 10 respectively, parallel to each other aid disposed lupon opposite sides of the mi dleline until they arev nearly opposite each other,

,after which the intervening portion is cut away so as to forni the j ...iforution 11. connecting the slits E) and l0 and completely severing thc band. The opposed rim-ends, it will thus be seen, substantially conform to a 'iroli'cii line extending troni n point ou one edge ol' the i'iiii to a ri'rcuinferenthilly :idvanced point on the other edge of the rim. A bolt 12 is positioned in the perforation 11, said bolt having a thin `rountledhead 13 overlying the inside of the band 6 adjacent said perforation and a laterally extending collar 1l overlapping the inside surface of said band opposite said head. lVith this construction thlbolt is held against `longitudinal ii'ovcnient in either direction, irrespective of whether the rini is in constricted or expanded condition since. the head and collar of the` bolt, always `overlap the edges of the slits fl and 1.0. This bolt is threaded for sublength, and carries a nut 15 having opposite ears or lugs 16,' to which are articulated the links 17. the further ends of which are pivoted formed upon the inner surface of the band (i, one at each side of thejbreak therein. The links 17 are preferably iarranged in pairs, one :it ear-li side of each of tlu` to lugs 18ar lugs laiid 18. and their connection to said lugs isv effeet/ed by means of rivets 19. The outer end of the bolt 12 is preferably squared as at 2O for the reception of a Wre'nch, by means of which the same may be turned. This construction rodiices a toggle joint, which, 7g when buck ed, serves to draw the ends rim securely'together m ns rlct the same firmly upon the exterior of the felly band. l

This toggle joint is preferably carriedr upon the middle line of the rim as illustrated in Figs. 2 8, 1() and 14, and the felly band isV provided with an elongated slot 25 for its reception. Below this slot the :tellyr itself is recessed as` at 26 to receives-titels() toggle, the interior of said recess'being closed except for a perforation 27 throng which the bolt 12 passes. rim to the felly, the bolt In applying the 12 is first inserted through the slot 25 and recess 26, the rim 85 bein r suitably inclined, as regards the plane of t ie Wheel, to permit the further side thereof to be passed over the felly. .The outer will of the recess 26 is preferably undercut as at .28 in Order to facilitate the nec- 9g essary inclination of the bolt 12. As soon as the toggle joint yhas been fully inserted in its recess the further edge `of the rim can be slipped over the felly and the rim constricted into placa The valve stern 29 of 95 the tire is preferably projected through the rim at a point adjacent to the bolt 12, so as to be inserted through the felly 3 simultaneouslylthereivith. In Fig. 1 I have shown the bolt and* valve stem projecting through the felly between adjacent spokes which I consider the most satisfactory arranA ement. I pre-.fer to cover the projectingeny of the bolt 12 with a cap 30 having a base flange 31 adapted to close the perforation Z7 and 105 prevent the access of water, sand, or other foreign substances to the recess 26.

In order to prevent. the shifting or creeping of the ririi around the telly band, I prefer to form the rim with s aced projections 35 carried by its inner sur ace, and adapted to fit in recesses 36 `formed in the felly band. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, these projections take the form of the heads of rivets, the bodies 37 of which are 115 .upset upon the inside of the rim, and the recesses 3 6' assume the form of perforations is; stamped or otherwise convenienti 'forrned. In Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive I ha'veillustreed a second expedient for accomplishing the same, which consists in rollingor-otherwise forniin the inner surface of the'rim with'a rircum erentially extendin rib 38, and formin the'felly band wit La correspond- 'ingly s aped recess said rib. In Figs. 1, 5 and 6, Ihave illusntfrateda third expedient for accom lishing v'thle saine result, ,which expedient ma be employedA either "wsu l filone o'r in combination with" jl one of the yexpedients describedabove; This 13() 'ri 39 adapted to receive '125 l consists in forming a lateral notch 40 in the side of the felly band substantially Opposite to the recess 26, and, forming the interior of theV rim 'with a projection to enter this notch. With this construction the lug 41 is the last thing to become seated as the rim is applied to the felly band, so

. thatits presence does not interfere with the i assembling.'

Up to this point the description has as sumed the use of a simple rim of the type with both flanges fixed 1n position thereon, andthe construction described exhibits man)v points of value in connection with such a de-` vice as will be obvious. I prefer, however, 120 form one of said ianges removable, 1n

o rder that the application of the tire to the nm may be facilitated,and to permit ready repairs to be made upon the roadin case the number of, extra tubes and shoes should excecd the number of spare rims. According to my referred construction, the outer edge of thej and 6. is bent inwardly as at 50 so as to lie against'the outer edge of the telly band, and the extremity of this portion is then ."bent outwardly and upwardly as at 52, so

" as to provide with und Between the slots and the ends of an outwardl facing groove 58, the outer wall of' which extends to no greater diameter than the surface of the rim 6. The shape of this roove is preferably the same as that descried and claimed in my copending application of even date herebea'ring Serial Number 625,078. In this groove I secure a removable flan e 54,.V having its outer ortion shaped similar y t the anve carrie by the opposite side of the rimanc having its inner portion shaped to fit snugly in the groove 53. This flan e is cut across at so as to form a sp it ring, and each of the ends thereof is provided `with an internal projection 56 having a forwardly extending toe 57. The bottom of the groove 53 is formed with slots 58 and 59 adjacent the slit 8, each of which is adapted to receive one of the projections 56. the rim, the vtransverse webs 58 are let, and be heath these Webs the toes 57 are adapted to engage. The slot 58 is preferably only slightly longer than the corresponding projection, but shorter than the projection plus toe 57, and the projection is inserted jtherein, toe first, the necessary canting of the ring being permitted by the beveled or or -lug 41 adapted above referred to. This block is illustrated as carried upon the spring 61 secured to the rim b means of a rivet 62 or the like. I have i lustrated herein my preferred method of securing said lling lock in place` and of securing said sprin to the rim, although it is to be understood t iat I do not limit m self to any such expediente except as tie same are specifically recited in those of the appended claims in which my invention is so expressiy limited. This construction brings the slit 55 in the flange substantially opposite the slit 8 in the rim, and assures 'that the rim and flange shall. be expanded and contracted as a unit, in applying the same to the Wheel.

In Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive I have ilustrated a construction in which both the rim Hanges arc made reversible so as to be used in connection with tires of different shapes. In these views the rim band 6 is provided at one side with the shallow lip and at the opposite side with the symmetrical groove 71, said groove being made in the same manner as the groove 53 above'described. Adjacent the lip 70 and upon op osite sides of the slits 7 are formed the s ots 58il and 59, and in the bottom of the groove 71 are formed the slots 58 and 59 as before. Surrounding the rm'adjacent the lip 70 is the split ring 72, having one side undercut as at 73 and ada ted to engage the lip of a clencher tire as s own in Fig. 15 and having the other side flat as at 74 to engage the side of a straightV Wall tire as shown 1n Fig. 16. This ring is secured implace by means lof projections secured in the slots 58* and 59 in the manner hereinbefore described. ounted in the groove 71 is the reversible split ring 75. having one side undercut as at 76 to oppose the undercut side 73. of the ring 72, and having the other side straight as at '77 to oppose the Wall 74 of the ring 72. The ring 75 is secured in the groove by means of projections secured in the slots 58 and 59 in the manner hereinbefore described. I With this construction both the rin 72 and 75 are securely held against shi ing or creeping about the rim, and are forced to' time with the rim when the 0r removed frpm the Wheel used.

It will be understood that the expedient disclosed herein for constrictin rim about the wheel can be emp oyed either with or without making either or both of the tire enga 'n flanges detachable therefrom. It wi a so be understood that my detachable liangescan be used either with or without the expedient of litting the rim; this feature has however n covered by the claims of my4 copending application above referred to. It will furthermore be appreciated that'my expedient of securing same is applied with which it is the split Y unsv ing

the detachable flanges to the split rim is ot' eat importance in the combination since 1t assures the close connection of the fianges thereto in all conditions of the rim, and without losing the advantages of a quick detachable flange. It will also be understood that I do not confine myself solely to the means of securing said flange in place de sc ribed in this application, but claini as within the scope of that combination all the expedients described and claimed in my copending ap lication. Furthermore, while I have described my invention in detail and shown it as employed in connection With a pneumatic tire, I do not propose to be limited to such use, ascertain features of construction thereof are of more general application; neither do I propose to be limited to details of construction except as the same may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed or may be rendered necessary by the prior state of the artv Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle Wheels; of a member projecting radially inwardly from a, point on said rim adjacent its ends, said member being held against longitudinal movement relatively to said rim; a second member longitudinally adjustable along said first member; and links connecting said secondmember with the ends of said rim and forming a toggle.

2. The combination with a transversely Split tire-supporting rim for vehicle Wheels; of a bolt projecting radially inwardly from a point on said rim adjacent its en s.y said bolt being rotatable Ibut longitudinally tixed relatively to said rim; and a toggle having its end members attached to the ends of said rim and having its middle member threaded upon said bolt.

3. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle Wheels, the split in said rim extending from, a point on one edge of said rim to a circumferentially advanced point on the other edge of said rim; of a member projecting radially inwardly from a oint on said rim adjacent its ends, said mem er being held against longitudinal movement relatively to said rim; a second member longitudinally adjustable along said first member; and links connect ing said second member with the ends of said rim and forming a toggle.

4. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle wheels, the s lit inisaid rim extending in abroken line rom-a point on one edge of said rim to a circum'ferentially advanced point on the other edge of said rim; of a member project radially inwardly from a point on said rim adjacent its ends, said member being held against longitudinal movement relatively to said rim; a second member longitudinally adjustable along said first m'ember; and links connecting said second member with the ends oi said rim and forming a toggle.

5. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle wheels having its ends provided with projections extending laterally past each other; of a member held in longitudinally fixed position between said projections; a second member longitudinally adjustable along said first member; and links connecting said second member with the ends of said rim and forming a toggle. i

G. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for 'vehicle Wheels havin' its ends provided with projections exten ing laterally past each other; of a member held between said projections so as to be. rotatable but longitudinally lixed; a second member having threaded engagement with said first member so as to be adjustable therealong upon rotation of said first me1nber; and links connecting said second member with the ends of said rim and forming a toggle.

7. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle wheels havin its ends provided with projectionsexten( ing laterally pasteach otllerg'of a bolt held between said projections se as to be ro tatable but longitudinally fixed; l a knut threaded upon saidbolt; and links connecting said nut with the ends of said rim1 and Jforming a toggle. f

8. The combination with a transversel split tire-supporting rim for vehicle Whee s having/its ends provided with projections ext-en ing laterally past each other; of a bolt rotatably held between saidprojections and having its head overlapping the adjacent edges thereof; a nut threaded upon said bolt; and links connecting said nut with the ends of said rim and forming a toggle.

9. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim for vehicle Wheels having its ends provided with projections extending laterally past each other, said projections bein spaced apart; of a bolt rotatably secure in the space between said projections and having its head overlappingthe adjacent edges thereof; a nut threaded upon said bolt and having laterally extendin ears; ears carried by the adjacent ends o said split ring; and links pivotally connecting the ears on said nut and rim, respecf tively, and forming aftoggle joint.

10; In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a felly; of a transverselyg it tire-supporting rim adapted to be clanped about said felly; a member-'projecting radially in-y wardly rom a 'nt on said rim adjacent its ends, said mem fr being held against longitudinal moveme t relatively to said rim; a

Seremi y nif m,lwr longitudinally :adj instable ulorw nid 'liv-nl. member; :ind links oonneet ing mid r-lecir'snd member with the ends of Said rim ind lori'oing n toggle, seid folly ,l lio sgr; reve zo accommodate :sind members und togglolinlie.

lil. ln n .'rliiole wheel, tile combination., ,lut r1 lolly having n nlelinllio elly band ilwrmrnninl, reid bund li'fiving n Slot thereY nt one eide and seid l'eliy being i v. 'nii weeen rffigietering willi sind i F n nic-.tellin rinl maid-e in tbe form of it 'ir' miepled to beelnmped about said i y n boli, rotatably but non-trnnS far-f nrml to Suid .rim adjacent the split o n toggle joint leaving its end fw'nrod io the ends ol' Said ring :1nd l or threaded upon een] bolt, fioinl, boing adapted to be re o :oid .eredi when said s'iin je;

tin? nomuinnion tlieroeronmi, Seid a 'in :n.ln'ougli et one eide ming: ferne-yd with e recess ,i elfi einig, the .vzill oi' Suid vf-rio Jon therethrough; of ffjilit tire-eu[ ip nting rim dumped about said folly band; ndinily inward from :mid n 1y bui, nontranslatnbly into; find n toggle joint having its: 'n seemed to the ends of said rim middle member threaded l, seid toggle joint being adopth l in smid recess and said bolt mid perforation,

vroeL the combination metallic elly imnd ind imi/ing n slot there nie :and seid folly being registering will) seid ng' e laterally opening nier eide there-o1' n1; a oppf `iin mid f-fot; oi:E :L transversely tire-supporting rim adapted to bef nient mid feily bend; means esse cinte-d wir` seid rim and adapted to be reeeived in enid recess for drawing the ends i of wid rirn together; and n lug; orproection n rried. by one side oi sind um opporfiln lidd nenne und adapted to be received in said rim so as to prevent longitudinal movement whereby euidtoggle joint will be buckle when said bolt is turned.

15, The combination with e` transversely split tir ,supporting rim for vehicle Wheels having iie 4ende provided with projections 65 extending peet each other; of n bolt extending rndinlly through said rim between Seid projecting iilortione and having :i heed und e eollerfspnred from wich other and receiving the edges of seid projections therebetween; and e toggle joint having its end members Secured to the ends of seid rim und having its middle member threaded upon seid bolt,

16. A split tir-eczurying rim in combination with e posiiive rim expanding and contrneting mechanism comprising e screw rotatably moulded in the rim adjacent to the willy extf: iding radially inward and held ngnii'isi l i ive redini nlm ement,y n nut mov- :dfle rudill in reierenro to the rim when tln; screw rotated, and links operatively ioining the nul with the tivo ends of the rim.

i7. A split tire-cnrrying rim in combination with n. screw rointnbly mounted in the rim adjacent to ibo Split lind projecting rn- 85 dinlly inwzirdly y eiz'einnferentinl shoulders on the screws engaging tlio rim and preventing relative radial nnwemont n nut mounted on the screw and adapted to be moved from or toward the rim when the screw is r0- tnted, end links lnwing pivotal Connection with the nut and the two ends of the rim, whereby7 when the nut is moved from or toward the rim the rim will be contraed or expanded.

i8. A. tire rim in the form of n` ring split or severed nt one poin t in itscircumference, in oombinntion wib n radially movable member arranged within the rim and adjacent to the ont, linke connecting the radially movable member with enoh end of the rim, and means for .movingilie member radially in referemze to die rim und for holding it in its position.

19. A mounting for n pneumatic tire com prising a, split rim in. Combination with a screw projecting radially inward from the rim and mgjntably mounted at its outer end in the rim hol-jacent to thsplit, a non-rotatnble nui. mounted on the screw. and toggles linking the nut to each end of the rim. y

In testimony whereof, I hereunto alfix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

RICHARD S. BRYANT.

Witnese `HAROLD E. SMITH, ALBERT H. BATES. 

